​As mainstream media has rushed to cover the Waco biker shootout, many have expressed anger at the way the tragedy was handled. Social media was abuzz with claims that there is a double standard in reporting and policing when the bad guys are white.

The actions and
vocabulary of journalists and law enforcement have come under
intense scrutiny in the Twittersphere, with many comparing the
coverage of the Waco shootout with that of the Baltimore and
Ferguson protests.

More died today in Waco than Ferguson & Baltimore combined
& the media still won't refer to bikers as thugs. Think
about that. #WacoThugs

Salon's Jenny Kutner was quick to point out that The New York
Times opted for words like “chaos” and
“confrontation,” while CNN used “brawl” and
“brouhaha.” Others repeatedly used the word
“incident” to describe the tragedy.

The bikers “did not 'riot,' as far as much of the media is
concerned. 'Riots' are reserved for communities of color in
protest, whether they organize violently or not...” Kutner
wrote.

White-on-white violence?

When protests in Ferguson and Baltimore turned into clashes,
looting, and burning cars, the American public was reminded of
the “black-on-black” violence taking place as
African-Americans “burned down their own neighborhoods.”

However, mainstream media doesn't seem to be reporting on
“white-on-white” crime, despite the fact that most of the bikers
involved were white.

Relaxed v. ready to fire

Riot police in Ferguson and Baltimore stood guard at the scene,
ready to fire if needed. It was very different to that of Waco,
where officers casually stood with their backs turned away from
those being arrested.

White Waco gang members that justkilled 9 people v. a Black man
walking home in Ferguson. Oh, America.: pic.twitter.com/Zy4Csi4uWK

The photo even shows one biker looking at his cellphone, while
others stand around freely.

The word 'thug'

The term “thug” was frequently used by the media to
describe those taking part in the Ferguson and Baltimore
protests, leading many to question why the word wasn't being used
in reference to the bikers.

Although the shootout was described by Waco Police Sergeant W.
Patrick Swanton as the "worst" and "most
violent" crime scene he had seen in 34 years of law
enforcement, it seems the actions of officers and the media don't
quite carry the same severity as they did in Baltimore and
Ferguson - and social media appears to have drilled that point
home.